Centrifugal casting apparatus



Jan. 10, 1956 P. J. KAVENY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed July 8, 1952 @1 ewa z INVENTOR PAUL J.KAvENY mm .wh

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Jan. 10, 1956 P. J. KAVENY CENTRIFUGAI. CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 8,1952 KM m m m 9 i Jan. 10, P J KAVENY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 8, 1952 2 INVENTOR PAUL. J.KA\-'ENY wag,

fi d f llll J Jan. 10, 1956 P. J. KAVENY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 8, 1952 INVENTOR M4 Q Q m Jan. 10, 1956 p,KAVENY 2,729,865

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l iINVENTOR A PAUL JKAVENY United States Patet1tQ CENTRIFUGAL CASTING AiPARATUs Application July 8, 1952, Serial No. 297,711

8 Claims. (Cl. 22--65) This invention relates to centrifugal castingapparatus and particularly to centrifugal casting apparatus comprising arotatable flask and an operating member cooperable with the flask duringa portion or portions of the cycle of operations and movable toinoperative position during another portion or other portions of thecycle of operations. The operating member may comprise a core holder andmay serve to maintain mold forming material in the flask during aportion of the cycle.

For purposes of explanation and illustration the invention will bedescribed as embodiedin centrifugal casting apparatus of the generaltype disclosed in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,449,900, the apparatusclaimed herein being also largely disclosed in copending applicationsSerial Nos. 285,213 and 285,214, filed April 30, 1952. The apparatuscomprises a support and a flask rotatably carried by the support. Whilethe invention is applicable to apparatus having but a single flask theapparatus shown herein and in said copending applications comprises fourflasks carried bya common support with the axes of the flasks generallyparallel and generally coplanar.

The flask support may be mounted formovement between a position in whichthe axes of the flasks are generally horizontal and a position in whichthe axes of the flasks are generally upright. The operating members mayserve as mold forming material retainers during a portion of the cycleand as core holders during another portion of the cycle, especially whenthey are employed in centrifugal casting apparatus having a flasksupport mounted for movement as just mentioned. Operating members whichserve as mold forming material retainers during a portion of the cycleand as core holders during another portion of the cycle are disclosed inPatent No. 2,613,410, but the operating members of the presentapplication are mounted and operated differently than the operatingmembers shown in said application. Important advantages are realizedthrough utilization of the means for mounting and operating theoperating members as disclosed and claimed herein.

I provide centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, a flaskrotatably carried by the support, pivot means whose axis extendsgenerally transversely of the axis of the flask, a carrier pivotallycarried by the pivot means and an operating member carried by thecarrier positioned substantially coaxially with the flask when thecarrier is in one angular position about the axis of the pivot means andlaterally offset from the axis of the flask when the carrier is inanother angular position about the axis of the pivot means. When theoperating member is laterally offset from the axis of the flask its axismay extend generally transversely of the flask axis.

The apparatus preferably includes means mounted for movement generallyaxially of the flask into and out of the flask at an end thereofcooperating with the flask in forming therein a mold of finely dividedmold forming material, and the operating member is preferably posi-.tioned substantially coaxially with the flask at said end 2,729,865Patented Jan. 10, 1956 thereof when the carrier carrying it is in oneangular position about the axis of the pivot means and laterally offsetfrom the path of the mold forming means when the carrier is in anotherangular position about the axis of the pivot means.

Means are preferably provided which are interposed between the carrierand the operating member for moving the operating member relatively tothe carrier generally axially of the flask into and out of cooperativerelationship with the end of the flask when the carrier is inappropriate angular position about the axis of the pivot means.

In a preferred form my apparatus comprises a support, a flask rotatablycarried by the support positionable with its axis generally horizontal,pivot means whose axis extends generally horizontally generallytransversely of the axis of the flask, a carrier pivotally carried bythe pivot means and an operating member carried by the carrierpositioned substantially coaxially with the flask when the carrier is inone angular position about the axis of the pivot means and disposedgenerally above the axis of the flask with its axis generally uprightwhen the carrier is in another angular position about the axis of thepivot means to adapt a core to be applied in a generally downwarddirection to the operating member when it is positioned with its axisgenerally upright.

Extensible and retractable means are preferably disposed about the meansfor moving the operating member relatively to the carrier to excludemold forming material. The means for moving the operating memberrelatively to the carrier may comprise cylinder means carried by thecarrier and piston means operable in the cylinder means generallyparallel to the axis of the flask when the carrier is in appropriateangular position about the axis of the pivot means, the piston meanscarrying the operating member. In a preferred structure two generallyparallel cylinders are carried by the carrier, pistons are respectivelyoperable in the cylinders and a head spans the space between the pistonsand is connected to both pistons, the operating member being carried bythe head.

As mentioned above, a plurality of flasks may be ro tatably carried bythe support. In such case the flasks preferably have their axesgenerally parallel and generally coplanar and the pivot means preferablyhas its axis extending generally parallel to the plane of the flask axesand generally transversely of the flask axes. In centrifugal castingapparatus employing a plurality of flasks there are as many operatingmembers as there are flasks, the oper ating members being carried by thecarrier and each preferably being provided with means for moving itrelatively to the carrier into and out of cooperative relationship withits flask.

In the apparatus shown herein the pivot means are carried by the supportwhich carries the flasks and that support is shown as being mounted formovement between a position in which the axes of the flasks aregenerally horizontal and a position in which the axes of the flasks aregenerally upright. That apparatus has important ad vantages in use aswill be brought out hereinafter.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of a present preferred embodimentthereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodimentof the invention in which Figure 1 is a plan view of centrifugal castingapparatus of the type shown in my said copending applications SerialNos. 285,213 and 285,214, the lower half of the apparatus as shown inthat figure being adapted for the casting of single hub pipe and theupper half being adapted for the casting of double hub pipe, the flasksbeing shown in position with their axes generally hori- 3 26am and thecore holders being shown in position respectively coaxial with theflasks;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus adapted for thecasting of double hub pipe with the parts as: shown in the upper half ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view to enlarged scaleshowing the apparatus with the flasks in position with their axesgenerally upright and with the core holders for the ends of the flaskswhich are disposed downward turned relatively to the axes of the flasksso that their axes are disposed respectively transversely of the axes ofthe flasks, this being the position of the parts during ejecting of castarticles from the flasks;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view to enlarged scale partly in plan andpartly in horizontal cross section of a portion of the apparatus withthe parts positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

- Figure is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus asshown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the apparatus as shownin Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view in horizontal cross section and toenlarged scale of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 4.

A portion of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 having to do withthe casting of double hub pipe is not herein claimed but is shown aspart of a complete operat ive apparatus; That is the portion of theapparatus at the extreme left in those figures, and because it does notconstitute the present invention it will not hereinafter be described infull detail.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus ismounted upon a base 2 and comprises a flask cradle 'or support 3 havingcoaxial trunnions 4 mounted for turning movement in bearings 5 so thatthe cradle 3 is mounted for turning movement in a vertical planeperpendicula'r to the common axis of the trunnions 4.

The cradle 3 may carry any desired number of rotatable flasks inside-by-side relationship with their axes generally parallel andgenerally coplanar. In the structure shown the cradle 3 carries fourflasks 6. Each of the flasks 6 has its own driving motor 7 mounted inthe cradle beneath the flask, each of the driving motors driving itsflask through a suitable driving connection such for example as a seriesof V-belts trained about pulleys on the flask and motorshaft'respectively.

Connected with the cradle are two brackets 8 to each of which is pivotedat 9 a piston rod 10 carrying a piston operable within a cylinder 11pivoted at 12 to a bracket 13 carried by the base 2. Means are providedfor admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinders 11' selectively atopposite sides of the pistons therein for swinging the cradle 3 betweena position as shown in Figures 1, 2, '4, Sand 6 in which the axes of theflasks are generally horizontal and a position turned clockwise from theposition of Figure 2 through generally a right angle in which the axesof the flasks are generally upright as shown in Figure 3; The base 2carries two pedestals 28 respectively cooperating with positioningmembers 29 carried by the cradle 3 to accurately position the cradle inthe position in which it isshown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 with theaxes of the flasks generally horizontal. When the cradle is swung to theposition in which the axes of the flasks are generally vertical as shownin Figure 3 two pads on the cradle engage stop members 31 on the base 2to limit turning movement of the cradle and positron it at a desiredangle.

Mounted on each end of the cradle 3 is a bracket 14. The two brackets 14are alike and extend generally longitudinally of the apparatus towardthe right viewing Figures l, 2 and 4. Pivoted to the brackets 14 at 15is a carrier 16 which carries eight cylinders 17. Pistons 17a operatingin the cylinders 17 are connectedtogether in pairs by crossheads 18,each of the crossheads 18 carry- 1 ing an operating member 19 rotatablymounted on the 4 crosshead. The operating members 19 are respectivelynormally disposed with their axes in the same longitudinal verticalplanes as the axes of the flasks 6. The operating members 19, asindicated above and as will appear more fully below, serve during aportion of the cycle as mold forming material retainers and during aportion of the cycle as core holders. For convenience they willhereinafter be referred to as core holders.

Mounted atop each of the brackets 14 and pivoted thereto at 20 is acylinder 21 within which operates a piston whose piston rod 22 ispivoted at 23 to a projection 24 carried by the carrier 16. Means areprovided for admitting fluid under pressure within the cylinders 21 toturn the carrier 16 about the common axis of the pivots 15 between aposition in which the core holders 19 are coaxial with the flasks 6 anda position in which the core,

holders 19 are swung out of coaxial relationship with the flasks asindicated in chain lines in Figure 2 and as shown in Figure 3. Fluidunder pressure is admitted within the cylinders 17 to move the coreholders 19 into and out of the ends of the flasks 6 when the coreholders are coaxial with the flasks. When the core holders are swung upto the chain line position indicated at 25 in Figure 2 when the flasksare positioned with their axes generally horizontal the core holders andthe carrier 16 carrying them clear the ends of the flasks to permitentry thereinto of mandrels presently to be described whose function isto form and compact in the flasks mold forming material, such; forexample, as sand, to make in the flasks molds for the centrifugalcasting of articles such as lengths of pipe; Such positioning of thecore holders 19 relatively to the flasks also provides for ejecting castarticles from the flasks when the parts are in the position of Figure 3,the ejected articles passing downwardly generally between the closedends of the cylinders 17 Extensible and retractable means are connectedwith the cylinders 17 and disposed about the piston rods to exclude moldforming material. The extensible and retractable means comprise twosleeves 17b and 17c applied to each cylinder and the portion of thecorresponding crosshead 18 in alignment therewith, Each sleeve 17b isbolted to the crosshead at 17d and has an inward flange, 17s at itsextremity remote from the crosshead. Each sleeve is of smaller diameterthan the cooperating sleeve 17b and has an outwardly projecting flange17 at its extremity. Each sleeve 170 is applied telescopically over thecorresponding cylinder 17. Thus as the pistons 17a operate in thecylinders 17 the sleeves 17b and 170 telescope one over the other andover the cylinder to' exclude mold forming material. The outer extremityof the flange 17] engages the inner surface of the sleeve 17b and theinner extremity of the flange '17:: engages the outer surface of thesleeve 170 so that a seal between the two sleeves is maintained. Thesleeve 170 has a snug sliding fit over the cylinder 17.

Pivoted to the. cradle 3 about a common axis 26 are mold stainpers 2 7,one for cooperation with each of the four flasks, for stamping in themold formed in the flask data to be cast in the pipes, the Stampers andtheir operating mechanism being covered in copending zuiplication SerialNo. 206,690, filed January 18, 1951.

Similarly tothe apparatus of Patent No. 2,449,900, the cradle is swungto position the flasks with their axes generally upright with thebottoms of the flasks closed by thecore holders 19 but without any coreson the core holders while the flasks are being filled with 'mold formingmaterial. The core holders are moved into and held in position againstthe ends of the flasks to close the ends of the flasks and retain moldforming material therein by admitting fluid under pressure to the rightof the pistons 17a viewing Figures 4 and 7 when the carrier 16 is in theangular position relatively 4 to the cradle 3 shown in Figures 4 and 5.After the is turned to position the flasks with their axes generallyhorizontal as shown in the drawings and the flasks are rotated to causethe mold forming material by centrifugal action to be somewhatconsolidated against the inner walls of the flasks, forming within eachincipient mold a generally central longitudinal opening through which amandrel presently to be described is inserted to further compact themold forming material and shape the mold.

Carried by the base 2 are parallel longitudinal rails 32 which projectsomewhat to the right of the base 2 viewing Figures 1 and 2 and havetheir ends supported at 33. Mounted for movement along the rails 32 is acarriage 34 having wheels 35 riding atop the rails 32 and rollers 36engaging the inner faces of the rails to accurately position thecarriage transversely of the rails. The carriage 34 is moved along therails by a piston operating in a cylinder 37, the piston rod 38 beingconnected by a pin 39 to a bracket 40 connected with the under side ofthe carriage. The cylinder 37 is supported by a supporting structure 41.Forward movement of the carriage, i. e., movement toward the leftviewing Figures 1 and 2, is limited by adjustable stops 42. Rearwardmovement of the carriage, i. e., movement toward the right viewingFigures 1 and 2, is limited by the piston in the cylinder 37 reachingthe end of its stroke.

Mounted on the carriage 34 for shifting movement transversely thereof isa mandrel support 43. At each end the mandrel support 43 has twohorizontal parallel projecting pins 44 entering sockets 45 carried bythe carriage. The four pins 44 operating in the respective sockets 45insure controlled transverse movement of the mandrel support 43 whilethe mandrels presently to be described which are carried by the supportare maintained at all times with desired orientation. The carriage 34carries an adjustable stop member 46 shown as being in the form of abolt which is maintained in its adjusted position by nuts 47. Themandrel support 43 is urged toward the stop 46 by a compression coilspring 48. The stop member 46 is adjusted so that when the mandrelsupport is in position thereagainst as shown in Figure 1 the mandrelsnow to be described have their axes respectively in the vertical planescontaining the axes of the flasks 6.

The mandrel support 43 has four sets of aligned bearfogs 49 in each ofwhich is rotatably supported a mandrel 50. Each mandrel 50 has arearward portion 51 disposed within the bearings by which the mandrel isrotatably supported and an enlargement or hub 52 for forming in the moldat one end of the flask an enlargement wherein a hub at one end of thepipe length cast in the mold is formed.

The forward end of each mandrel 50 is designed to selectivelyaccommodate means for use when single hub pipe is being cast and meansfor use when double hub pipe is being cast. Such means do not constitutethe present invention and will not be described. The followingdescription does, however, contemplate that double hub pipe is to becast.

The base 2 carries adjacent the left-hand ends of the flasks viewingFigures 1 and 2 parallel rails 66 on which is mounted for movementgenerally parallel to the axes of the flasks when in generallyhorizontal position a carriage 67. The carriage 67 has wheels 68 ridingatop the rails 66 and rollers 69 engaging the inner faces of the railsto position the carriage transversely of the rails for accurate movementtherealong.

Carried by the base 2 substantially at the longitudinal center linethereof is a cylinder 70 arranged with its axis generally horizontal andgenerally parallel to the length of the apparatus in which operates apiston whose piston rod 71 is connected at 72 to a downwardly projectingbracket 73 carried by the carriage 67. Thus operation of the piston inthe cylinder 70 causes movement of the carriage 67 along the rails 66.Movement 2 is limited by a pair of adjustable stop members 74 whichengage portions of the base 2. Movement of the carriage 67 in theopposite direction is limited by the piston in the cylinder 70 reachingthe end of its stroke.

The carriage 67 has mounted therein a carrier turnable about atransverse axis to selectively present to the left-hand ends of theflasks 6 viewing Figures 1 and 2 when the flasks are positioned withtheir axes generally horizontal mold forming portions 85a and coreholders 85b and also shiftable in the direction of that axis or parallelto the direction of transverse shifting of the mandrel support 43. Theportions 85a cooperate with the ends of the mandrels 50 to form moldsfor casting double hub pipe. That structure does not constitute thepresent invention and hence is not described in detail. It is describedin detail in copending applications Serial Nos. 285,213 and 285,214.

I shall now describe a cycle of operations of my centrifugal castingapparatus. Initially the mandrel support 43 is in its extreme right-handposition viewing Figure 1 and the carriage 67 carrying the carrier 85 isin its extreme left-hand position viewing Figure 1 so as to permit thecradle 3 carrying the four flasks 6 to be turned about the common axisof the trunnions 4 to the position in which the flasks are generallyupright. The core holders 19 are moved against the lower ends of theflasks to close the flasks at their bottoms and prevent mold formingmaterial introduced into the upper ends thereof from falling out. Moldforming material is introduced into the upper ends of the flasks. Theflasks are rotated about their respective axes and the cradle 3 isturned about the common axis of the trunnions 4 to the position ofFigures 1 and 2 in which the axes of the flasks are generallyhorizontal. The rotation of the flasks causes the mold forming materialtherein to be somewhat compacted or consolidated by centrifugal actionagainst the inside walls of the flasks, thereby forming through the moldforming material in each flask a generally central passage.

The core holders 1& are withdrawn from the flasks by fluid pressureoperating in the cylinders 17. Thereupon through fluid pressureoperating in the cylinders 21 the carrier 16 is turned about the commonaxis of the pivots 15 to the position in which the core holders aredisposed as indicated in chain lines in Figure 2 so as to clear theflasks for entry thereinto of the mandrels 56.

Through fluid pressure acting in the cylinder 37 and with the mandrelsmaintained axially of the flasks by the spring 48 the mandrel support 43carrying the mandrels is moved toward the left viewing Figures 1 and 2so that the mandrels enter the openings in the partially consolidatedmold forming material in the flasks.

With the carrier 85 oriented as-shown in Figure 2 the carriage 67 ismoved toward the right viewing Figures 1 and 2 by the operation of fluidunder pressure in the cylinder 70. The movement of the carriage 67 tothe right is limited by engagement of the stop members 74 with the abovementioned portions of the base 2. At the same time the movement of themandrel support 43 toward the left is limited by the adjustable stopmembers 42. As the mandrels 5d and portions 85a approach each other theextremity of each mandrel enters the corresponding portion 850. Whilethe respective mandrels and portions 85a are thus being introduced intothe flasks and into co operative relationship with each other the flasksare preferably rotating. After the mandrels and portions 85a reach fullycooperative position rotation of the flasks is continued, or, if theflasks have not been rotating, is commenced, and the mandrel support 43and the carrier 85 are shifted transversely by means not constitutingthe present invention. Such transverse shifting of the mandrels andportions 35a compacts the mold forming material in the flasks and formsthe molds therein. While the molds are being thus formed the mandrelsand the portions 85a ti'ii 'ri thliu-g h their engagement Wifli the moldfoith-itig" material. Such turni is promoted by mounting of themand'rels and the'por pas 85a on a'ritifriction bearings.

After the mewsuave been formed as just described carrier 85 and mandrelSupport 43' are shifted transversely back to their normal positions inwhich the respective mandreis and portions 85a are coaxial with theflasks. Thereupon the mandiel support 43 is moved back toward the rightviewing Figures 1 and 2 to its original inopera tive position'and thecarriage 67 is moved back toward the left to its original inoperativeposition.

With the core holders 19 and 85b disposed with their axes generallyupright cores are applied thereto by downward movement ther'eover. Thecarrier 85 is turned to the right viewing Figure 2 through an angle of90 to position the cores on the core holders 85b for entry into the lefthand ends of the flasks 6; The carrier 16 is swung back about the axisof the pivot means to the position shown in Figure 1 with the cores onthe core holders 19 positioned for entry into the right-hand ends of theflasks 6; The carriage 67 is moved toward the right viewing Figures 1and 2 to position the cores on the core holders 85b in the left-handends of the flasks. The cores on the core holders 19 are moved towardthe left viewing Figures 1 and2 by admission of fluid under pressure tothe right of the pistons 17a in the cylinders 17 viewing Figure 3 toposition those cores in the right-hand ends of the flasks.

Pouring boots are introduced through the core holders 85b and moltenmaterial, such, for example, as iron or steel, to be cast into lengthsof pipe is flowed into the molds through the pouring boots, the flasksat the same time being rotated at speeds such as to cause the moltenmaterial to form hollow articles such as lengths of pipe against themolds in the flasks. Rotation of the flasks is continued until themolten material has sufficiently solidified. Thereupon the core holders19 and 85b are withdrawn, the cradle 3 is tilted to generally uprightposition, the carrier 16 is turned to the position of Figure 3 and thepipe lengths formed in the flasks are ejected downwardly through thelower ends of the flasks by exerting pressure against the upper endsthereof.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, an open-endedflask rotatably carried by the support, means mounted for movementgenerally axially of the flask into and out of the flask cooperatingwith the flask in forming therein a mold of finely divided mold formingmaterial, pivot means whose axis extends generally transversely of theaxis of the flask, a carrier carried by the pivot means in fixedtransverse location and having outwardl'y extending arms and a memberadapted to be moved into juxtaposition with an open end of the flaskcarried by the arms adapted to be positioned substantially coaxiallywith the flask in the path of the mold forming means when the carrier isin one angular position about the axis of the pivot means, means formoving the carrier about the pivot means to position said memberlaterally of the path of the'mold forming means with the arms disposedalongside the path of the mold forming means and means for moving saidmember generally axially of theflask into and out of juxtaposition withsaid open end of the flask when the carrier is in said first mentionedangular position about the axis of the pivot means.

2. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, a plurality ofopen-ended flasks rotatably carried by the support in generallyside-by-side relationship, means mounted for movement generally axiallyof the flasks into and out of the flasks cooperating with the flasks informing therein molds of finely divided mold forming material, pivotmeans whose axis extends generally trans ver'sely of thaxes of theflasks, ac arrier carried by the pivot means fixed transverse locationand having outwardly extending arms and members adapted to be moved intojuxtaposition with open ends of the flasks carried by the arms, one suchmember for each flask, adapted to be positioned substantially coaxiallywith the flasks in the paths of the mold forming means when the carrieris in one angular position about the axis of the pivot means, means formoving the carrier about the pivot means to position said memberslaterally of the paths of the mold forming means with the arms disposedalongside the paths of the mold forming means and means for moving saidmembers generally axially of the flasks into and o'ut of juxtapositionwith said open ends of the flasks when the carrier is in said firstmentioned angular position about the axis of the pivot means.

3. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, an open-endedflask rotatably carried by the support positionable with its axisgenerally horizontal, means mounted for movement generally axially ofthe flask into and out of the flask cooperating with the flask informing therein a moldof finely divided mold forming material, pivotmeans whose axis extends generally horizontally generally transverselyof the axis of the flask, a carrier carried by the pivot means in fixedtransverse location and having outwardly extending arms and a memberadapted to be moved into juxtaposition with an open end of the flaskcarried by the arms adapted to be positioned substantially coaxiallywith the flask in the path, of the mold forming means when the carrieris in one angular position about the axis of the pivot means, means formoving the carrier about the pivot means to position said memberlaterally of the path of the mold forming means with said memberdisposed with its axis generally upright so that a core may be appliedthereto in a generally downward direction with the arms disposedalongside the path of the mold forming means and means for moving saidmember generally axially of the flask into and out of juxtaposition withsaid open end of the flask when the carrier is in said first mentionedangular position about the axis of the pivot means.

an open-ended flask rotatably carried by the support, means mounted formovement generally, axially of the flask into and out of the flaskcooperating with the flaskin forming therein a mold of finely dividedmold forming material, pivot means whose axis extends generallytransversely of the axis of the flask, a carrier carriedby the pivotmeans in fixed transverse location, outwardly extending cylinder meanscarried by the carrier, piston means operable in the cylinder means anda member adapted to be moved into juxtaposition with an open end of theflask carried by the piston means adapted to be positioned substantiallycoaxially with the flask in the path of the mold forming means when thecarrier is in one angular position about the axis of the pivot means,and means for moving the carrier about the pivot means to position saidmember laterally of the path of the mold forming means with the cylindermeans out of the path of the mold forming means, said member beingmovable into and out of juxtaposition with said open end'of the flaskupon operation of the piston means in the cylinder means when thecarrier is j in said first mentioned angular position about the axis ofthe pivot means.

5. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, an open-endedflask rotatably carried by the support, means mounted for movementgenerally axially of the flask into and out of the flask cooperatingwith the flask in formingtherein a mold of finely divided mold formingmaterial, pivot means whose axis extends generally transversely of theaxis of the flask, a carrier carried bythe pivot means in fixedtransverse location, azpairof outwardly extending cylinders carriedbythe carrier, pistons operable in the cylinders, a head spanping thespace between the pistons and connected to both thereof and a memberadapted to be moved into juxtaposition with an open end of the flaskcarried by the head adapted to be positioned substantially coaxiallywith the flask in the path of the mold forming means when the carrier isin one angular position about the axis of the pivot means, and means formoving the carrier about the pivot means to position said memberlaterally of the path of the mold forming means with the cylinders outof the path of the mold forming means, said member being movable intoand out of juxtaposition with said open end of the flask upon operationof the pistons in the cylinders when the carrier is in said firstmentioned angular position about the axis of the pivot means.

6. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, an open-endedflask rotatably carried by the support, means mounted for movementgenerally axially of the flask into and out of the flask cooperatingwith the flask in forming therein a mold of finely divided mold formingmaterial, pivot means carried by the support and whose axis extendsgenerally transversely of the axis of the flask, a carrier carried bythe pivot means in fixed transverse location and having outwardlyextending arms and a member adapted to be moved into juxtaposition withan open end of the flask carried by the arms adapted to be positionedsubstantially coaxially with the flask in the path of the mold formingmeans when the carrier is in one angular position about the axis of thepivot means, means for moving the carrier about the pivot means toposition said member laterally of the path of the mold forming meanswith the arms disposed alongside the path of the mold forming means andmeans for moving said member generally axially of the flask into and outof juxtaposition with said open end of the flask when the carrier is insaid first mentioned angular position about the axis of the pivot means.

7. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, an open-endedflask rotatably carried by the support, means mounting the support formovement of the support between a position in which the axis of theflask is generally horizontal and a position in which the axis of theflask is generally upright, means mounted for movement generally axiallyof the flask into and out of the flask when the support is in the firstmentioned position cooperating with the flask in forming therein a moldof finely divided mold forming material, pivot means whose axis extendsgenerally transversely of the axis of the flask, a carrier carried bythe pivot means in fixed transverse location and having outwardlyextending arms and a member adapted to be moved into juxtaposition withan open end of the flask carried by the arms adapted to be positionedsubstantially coaxially with the flask in the path of the mold formingmeans when the support is in the first mentioned position and thecarrier is in one angular position about the axis of the pivot means,means for moving the carrier about the pivot means to position saidmember laterally of the path of the mold forming means with the armsdisposed alongside the path of the mold forming means and means formoving said member generally axially of the flask into and out ofjuxtaposition with said open end of the flask when the support is in thefirst mentioned position and the carrier is in said first mentionedangular position about the axis of the pivot means.

8. Centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a support, an open-endedflask rotatably carried by the support, means mounting the support formovement of the support between a position in which the axis of theflask is generally horizontal and a position in which the axis of theflask is generally upright, means mounted for movement generally axiallyof the flask into and out of the flask when the support is in the firstmentioned position cooperating with the flask in forming therein a moldof finely divided mold forming material, pivot means carried by thesupport and whose axis extends generally transversely of the axis of theflask, a carrier carried by the pivot means in fixed transverse locationand having outwardly extending arms and a member adapted to be movedinto juxtaposition with an open end of the flask carried by the armsadapted to be positioned substantially coaxially with the flask in thepath of the mold forming means when the carrier is in one angularposition about the axis of the pivot means, means for moving the carrierabout the pivot means to position said member laterally of the path ofthe mold forming means with the arms disposed alongside the path of themold forming means and means for moving said member generally axially ofthe flask into and out of juxtaposition with said open end of the flaskwhen the carrier is in said first mentioned angular position about theaxis of the pivot means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS955,838 Allenson Apr. 19, 1910 1,567,488 Burchartz Dec. 29, 19251,735,969 Hurst et al Nov. 19, 1929 1,756,602 Morris et al. Apr. 29,1930 2,193,537 Nelson Mar. 12, 1940 2,340,262 Crawford Jan. 25, 19442,449,900 Johnston Sept. 21, 1948 2,613,410 Johnston Oct. 14, 1952

